Ceuse

When I set off on my journey I intended to climb in the famous Verdon Gorge, but as I explained my plans to other climbers, they told me I would bake in the heat of the south of France and I should go to Ceuse which is higher and further north.

So off I went. After traveling 11 hours by train and hitching, I arrived in Sigoyer. It was easy to meet climbers there as everyone in the campsite was there to climb. Languages from all over the world were heard at the Les Geurins campground, although English was the common language.

The routine at Ceuse was just the opposite of Chamonix. At Ceuse we would wake up at 10 or 11, find some breakfast, slackline and just chill until about 2 when the sun would creep around the backside of the massif. Around this time most of the climbers would begin the hour long slog up the hill to the crag.

After a good rest at the base of the crag everyone would make their way to their respective warm-ups. For me 6a or 6b, for others 7a-7b. While I was there I could usually finish my day around an hour before the sun went down and watch Dave Gram, Chris Sharma, David Llama and various other 9a climbers working their projects. It was quite an experience to watch these guys work their 8c+ projects as I worked mine 2 full grades lower.

It was hard to leave the way of life in Ceuse, so relaxed and laid back, but I figured that I was on a tour of Europe, not just the Ceuse massif. After asking the locals where other great places to visit would be it was settled that I should go to Biarritz.